Do you want to be able to choose your water company?

badmemory

gatita wrote: »

Well you are obviously NOT with S.West Water!!

But you will STILL be with S W water. You will just pay an intermediary. Totally and utterly pointless. If you can get savings of a massive £6 a year for switching, why not just give us all a £6 discount. Actually it should be more than £6 because the intermediary is not going to do this for nothing are they?

bumpercars99

Ofwat wrote: »

Hi Cardew,

Thanks for your thoughts.

Improving our use of water across the country is increasingly important. It is also central to Ofwat’s analysis of a competitive water market and the potential benefits it could bring.

Competition could also drive improvements and innovation across the industry - compelling companies to tackle the difficult issues head-on.

A central database of charges meanwhile should help customers make the best decision for their own water suppliers as we’re all able to do with other utilities, broadband and financial services, for example.

I don't normally look at this part of the forum but I nearly chocked reading this.

Compelling companies to tackle the difficult issues sounds a lot like what I'd imagine OFWAT should be doing! Don't try to push responsibility for regulating the shocking behaviour of water suppliers onto the consumer.

The idea that setting up the admin operations required to manage switching would allow for any consumer savings in the long-term is frankly ridiculous. Sooner or later the costs of these additional staff, IT systems, additional complaints caused by errors in the process, advertising, commissions to comparison sites etc just end up adding to everyone's bill.

bluewire

Looks like OFWAT have stopped reading this post however I still thought that I would add my bit to this.
I understood businesses having the option to move (so that they can put all of their eggs in one basket)...however for domestic customers to move for £6.....
Whilst water companies do not need to advertise now, some of the savings would need to be invested as advertising in the future.
OFWAT also need to understand that the vast majority of the country don't understand how Gas/Elec/Water business works. Wholesale v Retail.
how can you (OFWAT) expect to get a real understanding of what people want if you don't tell them what you are offering.

If you live in the south west, south west water will still give you your clean water and take away your dirty water. they will still have the same running costs. Live in south west, move to thames....you wont pay what a current thames customer pays. you will pretty much pay the same as today.
Would all customers need to be on water meters?? I would expect so or else how can they pay the wholesale company the money due?
I would welcome a reply from OFWAT to explain how they are going to correctly inform people of the facts of what the change would mean.